8,825 NYC owners defaulted at OATH in the last 30 days

In the past 30 days, 8,825 building-related OATH hearings ended in a default — the owner didn't answer or didn't show — locking in $59 million in penalties.

A default is the most expensive way to lose: the maximum penalty is imposed automatically, often several times what a contested hearing would have cost. Most defaults happen for a mundane reason — the summons went to an old mailing address, or the hearing date slipped by unnoticed.

The city gives you one do-over: a default can be reopened within 75 days of the missed hearing, no questions asked. Here's exactly how— and DailyDog members can generate the reopening paperwork, pre-filled, from their property hub.

Better yet, never default again: DailyDog watches your building daily and barks the moment a new summons or hearing date appears — answering early is dramatically cheaper.